PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Health department has recently issued an advisory to all government and private hospitals in the Dehradun district regarding the prevention of waterborne diseases. The Dehradun chief medical officer Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma informed that during the monsoon season, the incidence of waterborne diseases increases due to contamination of water sources or damage to pipelines.
In light of this, a waterborne disease advisory has been sent to all hospitals in Dehradun. The CMO said that the number of patients suffering from waterborne infectious diseases, such as diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, jaundice, cholera and hepatitis, rises in the ongoing season. As part of the advisory, all chief medical superintendents, medical superintendents and medical officers in charge are required to inspect the outpatient department (OPD) registers of their respective medical units daily. They must ensure daily reporting on the IDSP portal and closely monitor cases of diarrhoea, dysentery, typhoid, jaundice, cholera and hepatitis. If there is an increase in cases, immediate action will be taken. Additionally, ASHAs and ANMs will monitor these diseases in their areas and raise public awareness about prevention and control measures, he said.
The CMO said that further directions include coordinating with the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan to regularly inspect and chlorinate drinking water. In cases of any contamination, citizens are encouraged to contact the Health department. While conducting road work, special care should be taken to prevent breakage and leakage of water-related pipelines, with immediate reporting of any issues to the departments concerned.
He said that hospitals have also been directed to maintain adequate quantities of intravenous glucose saline, oral rehydration solution (ORS) and medications for vomiting and diarrhoea. It is crucial to ensure an adequate quantity of chlorine and bleaching powder is available at health centres. Sharma has also urged citizens to take necessary precautions, which include avoiding stale food, avoiding open food items and undercooked food from the market, and consuming watermelon, melon and sugarcane juice only if they are clean and safe. Apart from this, boil water at home and use it for cooking and drinking and always wash your hands with soap after using the toilet and before eating, among others, he said.
